Vehicle electronic mirror system

ABSTRACT

A rearward camera of a vehicle electronic mirror system images a rearward view of a vehicle, and a lateral rearward camera unit images each of right and left lateral rearward views of the vehicle. A control device compresses at least one of a rearward view picture after imaging by the rearward camera and right and left lateral rearward view pictures after imaging by the lateral rearward camera unit, at least in a vehicle-width direction, and performs display on an inner mirror display. The control device changes the compression ratio of the picture in the control device, depending on at least one of a state and peripheral situation of the vehicle. Accordingly, when a vehicle rearward side including lateral rearward sides contains a site requiring an easy distance-sense grasp, it is possible to easily grasp distance sense by decreasing the compression ratio of the picture corresponding to the site.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-214773 filed onNov. 15, 2018 including the specification, drawings and abstract isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle electronic mirror system.

2. Description of Related Art

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-81664 (JP 2009-81664 A)discloses a vehicle surrounding monitoring device. The vehiclesurrounding monitoring device synthesizes a rearward view picture of avehicle rearward side of a vehicle that is taken by an in-vehicle cameraprovided at a center in a vehicle-width direction and lateral rearwardview pictures of right and left rearward sides of the vehicle that arerespectively taken by in-vehicle cameras provided at positionscorresponding to right and left side mirrors, and displays thesynthesized picture on a display device. The vehicle surroundingmonitoring device displays the right and left lateral rearward viewpictures, such that the right and left lateral rearward view picturesare compressed compared to the rearward view picture. Thereby, it ispossible to visually recognize a wide range including the lateralrearward sides, while easily grasping distance sense in the vehiclerearward side that requires attention.

SUMMARY

However, in the case of the configuration disclosed in JP 2009-81664 A,the lateral rearward view pictures are compressed and displayed, andtherefore, when the vehicle moves to one side in the vehicle-widthdirection, there is a possibility that it is difficult to grasp arearward situation of the side to which the vehicle moves, from displaymeans. In this regard, the above related art has room for improvement.

In consideration of the above circumstance, the present disclosure hasobject to obtain a vehicle electronic mirror system that allows anoccupant to appropriately grasp a situation of a periphery of thevehicle.

A vehicle electronic mirror system according to the present disclosuredescribed in claim 1 includes: rearward view imaging means for imaging arearward view of a vehicle; lateral rearward view imaging means forimaging each of rearward views of right and left lateral sides of thevehicle; compression process control means for compressing at least oneof a rearward view picture resulting from the imaging by the rearwardview imaging means and right and left lateral rearward view picturesresulting from the imaging by the lateral rearward view imaging means,at least in a vehicle-width direction, and displaying the compressedpicture on display means; and compression ratio change control means forchanging the compression ratio of the picture in the compression processcontrol means, from a compression ratio at a normal time, depending onat least one of a state of the vehicle and a situation of a periphery ofthe vehicle.

With the present disclosure described in claim 1, the vehicle electronicmirror system includes the rearward view imaging means, the lateralrearward view imaging means, the compression process control means, andthe compression ratio change control means. The rearward view imagingmeans images the rearward view of the vehicle, and the lateral rearwardview imaging means images each of the rearward views of the right andleft lateral sides of the vehicle. The compression process control meanscompresses at least one of the rearward view picture resulting from theimaging by the rearward view imaging means and the right and leftlateral rearward view pictures resulting from the imaging by the lateralrearward view imaging means, at least in the vehicle-width direction,and displays the compressed picture on the display means. Accordingly,by visually recognizing the display means, an occupant can visuallyrecognize a wide range of a vehicle rearward side. Here, the compressionratio change control means changes the compression ratio of the picturein the compression process control means, from the compression ratio atthe normal time, depending on at least one of the state of the vehicleand the situation of the periphery of the vehicle. Accordingly, in thecase where the vehicle rearward side including lateral rearward sidescontains a site that requires an easy grasp of distance sense, it ispossible to easily grasp the distance sense by decreasing thecompression ratio of the picture corresponding to the site.

In a vehicle electronic mirror system according to the presentdisclosure described in claim 2, in the present disclosure described inclaim 1, when the compression ratio change control means acquiresinformation indicating that the vehicle moves to one side in thevehicle-width direction, the compression ratio change control means maychange the compression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture of aside corresponding to the one side, to a smaller compression ratio thana compression ratio before the acquisition of the information, or tonon-compression, and may change the compression ratio of the lateralrearward view picture of a side corresponding to the other side in thevehicle-width direction, to a larger compression ratio than acompression ratio before the acquisition of the information.

With the present disclosure described in claim 2, when the compressionprocess control means acquires the information indicating that thevehicle moves to one side in the vehicle-width direction, thecompression process control means changes the compression ratio of thelateral rearward view picture of the side corresponding to the one side,to a smaller compression ratio than the compression ratio before theacquisition of the information, or to the non-compression. Further, thecompression process control means changes the compression ratio of thelateral rearward view picture of the side corresponding to the otherside in the vehicle-width direction, to a larger compression ratio thanthe compression ratio before the acquisition of the information. Thatis, when the compression process control means acquires the informationindicating that the vehicle moves to one side in the vehicle-widthdirection, the compression process control means increases thecompression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture of the sidecorresponding to the other side in the vehicle-width direction comparedto before the acquisition (decreases a display range), and by a quantityequivalent to the increase quantity, decreases the compression ratio ofthe lateral rearward view picture of the side corresponding to the oneside compared to before the acquisition, or changes the compressionratio to the non-compression (increases a display range). Accordingly,it is possible to grasp the situation in a wide range of the vehiclerearward side, and it is possible to easily grasp the distance sense inthe lateral rearward view of the one side in the vehicle-width directionto which the vehicle moves.

In a vehicle electronic mirror system according to the presentdisclosure described in claim 3, in the present disclosure described inclaim 2, the compression ratio change control means may acquire theinformation indicating that the vehicle moves to the one side in thevehicle-width direction, from operation information about a directionindicator.

With the present disclosure described in claim 3, the compression ratiochange control means acquires the information indicating that thevehicle moves to the one side in the vehicle-width direction, from theoperating information about the direction indicator, and therefore, whenthe occupant expresses an intention to move the vehicle to the one sidein the vehicle-width direction, the compression ratio of the lateralrearward view picture on the display means of the side to which thevehicle moves is changed to a smaller compression ratio or thenon-compression. Accordingly, by visually recognizing the display means,the occupant can easily grasp the distance sense in the lateral rearwardview of the side to which the vehicle moves. Therefore, the occupant canappropriately grasp the situation of the periphery of the vehicle,before the vehicle moves to the one side in the vehicle-width direction.Further, it is possible to avoid the compression ratio of the picture onthe display means from being changed at a timing that the occupant doesnot intend.

In a vehicle electronic mirror system according to the presentdisclosure described in claim 4, in the present disclosure described inclaim 2, the compression ratio change control means may acquire theinformation indicating that the vehicle moves to the one side in thevehicle-width direction, from steering angle detection means.

With the present disclosure described in claim 4, the compression ratiochange control means acquires the information indicating that thevehicle moves to the one side in the vehicle-width direction, from thesteering angle detection means, and therefore, when the vehicle moves tothe one side in the vehicle-width direction, it is possible to changethe compression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture on thedisplay means of the side to which the vehicle moves, to a smallercompression ratio or the non-compression, without another operation.Accordingly, the occupant can easily grasp the distance sense in thelateral rearward view of the side to which the vehicle moves, withreduction in operation burden of the occupant.

In a vehicle electronic mirror system according to the presentdisclosure described in claim 5, in the present disclosure described inclaim 1, when a physical body is detected in the periphery of thevehicle, the compression ratio change control means may change thecompression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture of one side inthe vehicle-width direction, to a smaller compression ratio than acompression ratio before the detection of the physical body, or tonon-compression, and may change the compression ratio of the lateralrearward view picture of the other side in the vehicle-width direction,to a larger compression ratio than a compression ratio before thedetection of the physical body, the one side in the vehicle-widthdirection corresponding to a direction of the detection of the physicalbody.

With the present disclosure described in claim 5, when the physical bodyis detected in the periphery of the vehicle, the compression ratiochange control means changes the compression ratio of the lateralrearward view picture of the one side in the vehicle-width directionthat corresponds to the direction of the detection of the physical body,to a smaller compression ratio than the compression ratio before thedetection of the physical body, or to the non-compression. Further, thecompression ratio change control means changes the compression ratio ofthe lateral rearward view picture of the side corresponding to the otherside in the vehicle-width direction, to a larger compression ratio thanthe compression ratio before the detection of the physical body.Accordingly, it is possible to grasp the situation in a wide range ofthe vehicle rearward side, and it is possible to easily grasp thedistance sense in the lateral rearward view of the one side in thevehicle-width direction that corresponds to the direction of thedetection of the physical body. That is, the occupant can easily graspthe distance sense for the physical body.

In a vehicle electronic mirror system according to the presentdisclosure described in claim 6, in the present disclosure described inclaim 1, when the compression ratio change control means changes thecompression ratio of the picture to be displayed on the display means,the compression ratio change control means may continuously change thecompression ratio.

With the present disclosure described in claim 6, when the compressionratio change control means changes the compression ratio of the pictureto be displayed on the display means, the compression ratio changecontrol means continuously changes the compression ratio. Accordingly,the occupant can follow the change in the picture, and therefore, it ispossible to restrain confusion caused by switching of the picture,compared to a case where the picture suddenly switches.

Here, the term “continuously” includes a case of a continuous changeuntil the middle of the process, a case of a continuous change from themiddle of the process, and a case of a stepwise process.

In a vehicle electronic mirror system according to the presentdisclosure described in claim 7, in the present disclosure described inclaim 1, the compression process control means may display a boundarymark on a boundary between the rearward view picture and the lateralrearward view picture that are displayed on the display means.

With the present disclosure described in claim 7, the compressionprocess control means displays the boundary mark on the boundary betweenthe rearward view picture and the lateral rearward view picture that aredisplayed on the display means, and therefore, even when the compressionratio of each picture is changed, the occupant can recognize theboundary between the rearward view picture and the lateral rearward viewpicture. Accordingly, even when display ranges on the display means aregreatly changed, the occupant can easily grasp what picture is displayedon the display means.

The vehicle electronic mirror system according to the present disclosuredescribed in claim 1 has a beneficial effect by which the occupant canappropriately grasp the situation of the periphery of the vehicle.

The vehicle electronic mirror system according to the present disclosuredescribed in claim 2 has a beneficial effect by which the occupant canfurther appropriately grasp the situation of the periphery of thevehicle when the vehicle moves to one side in the vehicle-widthdirection.

The vehicle electronic mirror system according to the present disclosuredescribed in claim 5 has a beneficial effect by which the occupant canfurther appropriately grasp the situation of the periphery of thevehicle when there is a physical body in the periphery of the vehicle.

The vehicle electronic mirror system according to the present disclosuredescribed in claim 6 has a beneficial effect by which it is possible toreduce a feeling of strangeness of the occupant.

The vehicle electronic mirror system according to the present disclosuredescribed in claim 7 has a beneficial effect by which the occupant canfurther appropriately grasp the situation of the periphery of thevehicle even in the case of a display change.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance ofexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numeralsdenote like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a vehicle cabin of avehicle including a vehicle electronic mirror system according to afirst embodiment, as viewed toward a vehicle front side;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a rear portion of thevehicle including the vehicle electronic mirror system according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing hardware constituents of the vehicleelectronic mirror system according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing functional constituents of the vehicleelectronic mirror system according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a display state of the display meansat a normal time of the vehicle including the vehicle electronic mirrorsystem according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a display state of the display meanswhen the vehicle including the vehicle electronic mirror systemaccording to the first embodiment moves to one side in a vehicle-widthdirection;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a behavior flow of the vehicle electronicmirror system according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing hardware constituents of a vehicleelectronic mirror system according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing functional constituents of the vehicleelectronic mirror system according to the second embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a behavior flow of the vehicle electronicmirror system according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a vehicle electronic mirror systemaccording to the present disclosure will be described with use of FIG. 1to FIG. 7. In the drawings, identical or equivalent constituent elementsand parts are denoted by identical reference characters. Further,proportions of dimensions in the drawings are exaggerated forconvenience of description, and are sometimes different from actualproportions.

Hardware Constituents

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing hardware constituents of a vehicleelectronic mirror system 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle electronicmirror system 10 includes a rearward camera 14 as rearward view imagingmeans that is mounted on a vehicle 12 (see FIG. 1), a lateral rearwardcamera unit 16 as lateral rearward view imaging means, an inner mirrordisplay 18 as display means, and a control device 22 as compressionprocess control means and compression ratio change control means, and adirection indicator 36. The constituents are connected by a bus 24, suchthat the constituents can communicate with each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rearward camera 14 is disposed at a rear portionof a trunk lid 26 of the vehicle 12, such that an imaging optical axis(lens) is oriented in a rearward direction of the vehicle, and images arearward view of the vehicle 12. The position where the rearward camera14 is disposed only needs to be a position that allows the imaging ofthe rearward view of the vehicle 12. The rearward camera 14 may bedisposed near a rear bumper of the vehicle 12, or may be disposed so asto image the rearward view of the vehicle 12 through a rear windshieldglass. The rearward camera 14 has a fixed-focus lens, has no mechanismthat changes the orientation of the imaging optical axis, and images aconstant imaging range.

As shown in FIG. 1, a base portion of a camera support 32 having anearly rectangular shape with an arc-like distal end portion is attachedto a vehicle lateral front end portion of an intermediate portion in avehicle-height direction of a vehicle door 30 (left front side door) ofthe vehicle 12, such that the distal end portion of the camera support32 projects in a vehicle outward direction. Near the distal end portionof the camera support 32, a left lateral rearward camera 16L, whichconstitutes a part of the lateral rearward camera unit 16, is attached,such that an imaging optical axis (lens) of the left lateral rearwardcamera 16L is oriented in a left rearward direction of the vehicle.

The left lateral rearward camera 16L images a part of the left rearwardside and left side of the vehicle. The camera support 32 can pivot in avehicle front-rear direction such that the axial direction is nearly thevehicle-height direction, and can pivot to a storage position where alongitudinal direction of the camera support 32 is along an outsidesurface of the vehicle, or to a return position where the left lateralrearward camera 16L images a left lateral rearward view of the vehicle,by driving power of an unillustrated actuator.

The left lateral rearward camera 16L, as an example, has no mechanismthat changes the orientation of the imaging optical axis, and has afixed-focus lens with a relatively wide angular field. Therefore, in astate where the camera support 32 is at the return position, the leftlateral rearward camera 16L images a relatively wide and constantimaging range of a left lateral rearward side of the vehicle.

Further, a base portion of a camera support 33 having a symmetricalshape to the camera support 32 is attached to a vehicle lateral frontend portion of an intermediate portion in the vehicle-height directionof a vehicle door 30 (right front side door) of the vehicle 12. Near thedistal end portion of the camera support 33, a right lateral rearwardcamera 16R, which constitutes another part of the lateral rearwardcamera unit 16, is attached, such that an imaging optical axis (lens) ofthe right lateral rearward camera 16R is oriented in a right rearwarddirection of the vehicle. The right lateral rearward camera 16R images apart of the right rearward side and the right side of the vehicle. Thecamera support 33 can pivot in the vehicle front-rear direction suchthat the axial direction is the vehicle-height direction, and can pivotto a storage position where a longitudinal direction of the camerasupport 33 is along an outside surface of the vehicle, or a returnposition where the right lateral rearward camera 16R images a rightlateral rearward view of the vehicle, by driving power of anunillustrated actuator.

Similarly to the left lateral rearward camera 16L, as an example, theright lateral rearward camera 16R has no mechanism that changes theorientation of the imaging optical axis, and has a fixed-focus lens witha relatively wide angular field. Therefore, in a state where the camerasupport 33 is at the return position, the right lateral rearward camera16R images a relatively wide and constant imaging range of a rightlateral rearward side of the vehicle.

The inner mirror display 18 is provided on a vehicle upper side of afront windshield glass 42, at nearly the center in the vehicle-widthdirection. As an example, the inner mirror display 18 is constituted bya liquid crystal panel, and can display a picture toward the inside of avehicle cabin 44. The inner mirror display 18 displays picturesresulting from the imaging by the rearward camera 14, the left lateralrearward camera 16L and the right lateral rearward camera 16R, aftersynthesis and picture processing by the control device 22. That is, theinner mirror display 18 functions as a replacement for an inner mirror,and the occupant visually recognizes the picture displayed on the innermirror display 18, and thereby, can check the situation of the peripheryof the vehicle 12 centered on the rearward side of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 22 is configured to include acentral processing unit (CPU) 48, a read only memory (ROM) 50, a randomaccess memory (RAM) 52, and a storage 54, which are provided in theinterior.

The CPU 48, which is a central arithmetic processing unit, executes avariety of programs and controls respective parts. That is, the CPU 48reads programs from the ROM 50 or the storage 54, and executes theprograms while using the RAM 52 as a working region. In accordance withthe programs recorded in the ROM 50 or the storage 54, the CPU 48performs controls of the above constituents and a variety of arithmeticprocesses. In the embodiment, a surrounding display program is stored inthe ROM 50 or the storage 54.

In the ROM 50, a variety of programs and a variety of data are stored.In the RAM 52, as a working region, programs or data are temporarilystored. The storage 54 is constituted by a hard disk drive (HDD) or asolid state drive (SDD), and a variety of programs including anoperating system and a variety of data are stored.

The direction indicator 36 is a so-called winker for showing a directionof the vehicle-width direction in which the occupant moves at the timeof a large steering angle driving or a small steering angle driving ofthe vehicle 12, to the exterior of the vehicle 12, through blinking ofan unillustrated winker lamp. The direction indicator 36 is providednear a steering wheel 38 (see FIG. 1).

Functional Constituents

At the time of the execution of the above surrounding display program,the vehicle electronic mirror system 10 realizes a variety of functions,using the above hardware resources. Functional constituents to berealized by the vehicle electronic mirror system 10 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing exemplary functional constituents ofthe vehicle electronic mirror system 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle electronic mirror system 10 includes adetermination unit 62, a compression ratio change control unit 64, acompression process control unit 65, and an output unit 66, asfunctional constituents. The functional constituents are realized whenthe CPU 48 of the control device 22 reads the surrounding displayprogram stored in the ROM 50 or the storage 54 (see FIG. 3) and executesthe surrounding display program.

The determination unit 62 determines whether the direction indicator 36is operating. In the case where the direction indicator 36 is operating,the determination unit 62 determines an operating direction (therightward direction or leftward direction of the vehicle-widthdirection) of the direction indicator 36. Then, in the case where thedirection indicator 36 is operating for the leftward side in thevehicle-width direction, the determination unit 62 determines that thevehicle 12 moves to the leftward side. On the other hand, in the casewhere the direction indicator 36 is operating for the rightward side inthe vehicle-width direction, the determination unit 62 determines thatthe vehicle 12 moves to the rightward side.

The compression process control unit 65 performs synthesis such that arearward view picture 70 resulting from the imaging by the rearwardcamera 14 and lateral rearward view pictures 72, 74 resulting from theimaging by the left lateral rearward camera 16L and the right lateralrearward camera 16R respectively are continuously displayed on the innermirror display 18, as shown in FIG. 5. That is, the compression processcontrol unit 65 synthesizes a picture extracted from the left lateralrearward view picture 72, on the left side of the rearward view picture70, and synthesizes a picture extracted from the right lateral rearwardview picture 74, on the right side of the rearward view picture 70, andthereby, the compression process control unit 65 generates a picture inwhich a region of the rearward view picture 70, a region of the lateralrearward view picture 72 and a region of the lateral rearward viewpicture 74 smoothly continues. The generated picture is a picturesimilar to a view when the occupant of the vehicle 12 visually observesthe rearward side and lateral rearward sides of the vehicle 12. As shownin FIG. 5, at a normal time, the compression process control unit 65displays the rearward view picture 70 at a center portion in thevehicle-width direction of the inner mirror display 18, with nocompression, and displays the lateral rearward view pictures 72, 74 soas to be adjacent to the center portion in the vehicle-width directionof the inner mirror display 18, while the lateral rearward view pictures72, 74 are compressed in the vehicle-width direction (hereinafter, thedisplay in this state is referred to as a “first picture 76”). Thecompression process control unit 65 displays boundary marks 78 onboundaries among the rearward view picture 70 and the lateral rearwardview pictures 72, 74 that are displayed on the inner mirror display 18.

When the compression ratio change control unit 64 receives, from thedetermination unit 62, information indicating that the vehicle 12 movesin the rightward or leftward direction based on operating informationabout the direction indicator 36, the compression ratio change controlunit 64 changes the compression ratios of the lateral rearward viewpictures 72, 74 in the compression process control unit 65, fromcompression ratios before the receiving of the information indicatingthat the vehicle 12 moves in the rightward or leftward direction, thatis, from compression ratios of the first picture 76. Specifically, inthe case where it is determined that the vehicle 12 moves to theleftward side in the vehicle-width direction, the compression ratiochange control unit 64 changes the compression ratio in the compressionprocess control unit 65 for the lateral rearward view picture 72resulting from the imaging by the left lateral rearward camera 16L, to asmaller compression ratio than the compression ratio at the normal time(the first picture 76), or to a non-compression. In contrast, thecompression ratio change control unit 64 changes the compression ratioin the compression process control unit 65 for the lateral rearward viewpicture 74 resulting from the imaging by the right lateral rearwardcamera 16R, to a larger compression ratio than the compression ratio atthe normal time (the first picture 76). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6,without changing the compression ratio of the rearward view picture 70,it is possible to decrease the display range of the lateral rearwardview picture 74, and by a quantity equivalent to the decrease quantity,increase the display range of the lateral rearward view picture 72(hereinafter, the display in this state is referred to as a “secondpicture 80”). The boundary marks 78 to be displayed on the inner mirrordisplay 18 are also displaced in the vehicle-width direction, with thechange in the compression ratios.

In the case where it is determined that the vehicle 12 moves to therightward side in the vehicle-width direction, the second picture 80 isdisplayed on the inner mirror display 18, similarly. That is, thecompression ratio change control unit 64 changes the compression ratioin the compression process control unit 65 for the lateral rearward viewpicture 74 resulting from the imaging by the right lateral rearwardcamera 16R, to a smaller compression ratio than the compression ratio atthe normal time (the first picture 76), or to the non-compression. Incontrast, the compression ratio change control unit 64 changes thecompression ratio in the compression process control unit 65 for thelateral rearward view picture 72 resulting from the imaging by the leftlateral rearward camera 16L, to a larger compression ratio than thecompression ratio at the normal time (the first picture 76).Accordingly, without changing the compression ratio of the rearward viewpicture 70, it is possible to decrease the display range of the lateralrearward view picture 72, and by a quantity equivalent to the decreasequantity, increase the display range of the lateral rearward viewpicture 74.

The output unit 66 outputs the picture from the compression processcontrol unit 65, to the inner mirror display 18. In the case of thechange in the compression rations of the rearward view picture 70 andthe lateral rearward view pictures 72, 74 that are displayed on theinner mirror display 18, the output unit 66 outputs the picture to theinner mirror display 18, such that the compression ratios continuouslychanges.

Processing Flow

Next, an action of the vehicle electronic mirror system 10 will bedescribed. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a behavior flow of the vehicleelectronic mirror system 10. The CPU 48 reads the surrounding displayprogram from the ROM 50 or the storage 54, expands the surroundingdisplay program in the RAM 52, and executes the surrounding displayprogram, so that the picture display is performed.

The CPU 48 displays the first picture 76 on the inner mirror display 18(step S100). Then, the CPU 48 determines whether the direction indicator36 is operating (step S102). In the case where the direction indicator36 is not operating (step S102: NO), the CPU 48 repeats the process fromstep S100.

In the case where the direction indicator 36 is operating (step S102:YES), that is, in the case where the vehicle 12 moves to one side in thevehicle-width direction, the CPU 48 displays, on the inner mirrordisplay 18, the second picture 80 resulting from changing thecompression ratio of one of the lateral rearward view pictures 72, 74that corresponds to the operating direction of the direction indicator36 to a smaller compression ratio or the non-compression (step S104),and thereafter, repeats the process from the step S102. Then, in thecase where a system end process for a power unit system of the vehicle12 is performed, the CPU 48 ends the process based on the surroundingdisplay program.

Operation and Effect of First Embodiment

Next, an operation and an effect of the first embodiment will bedescribed.

In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle electronic mirrorsystem 10 includes the rearward camera 14, the lateral rearward cameraunit 16, and the control device 22. The rearward camera 14 images therearward view of the vehicle 12, and the lateral rearward camera unit 16images each of the rearward views of the right and left lateral sides ofthe vehicle 12. The control device 22 compresses at least one of therearward view picture 70 resulting from the imaging by the rearwardcamera 14 and the right and left lateral rearward view pictures 72, 74resulting from the imaging by the lateral rearward camera unit 16, atleast in the vehicle-width direction, and displays the compressedpicture on the inner mirror display 18. Accordingly, by visuallyrecognizing the inner mirror display 18, the occupant can visuallyrecognize a wide range of a vehicle rearward side. Here, the controldevice 22 changes the compression ratio of the picture in the controldevice 22, from the compression ratio at the normal time (the firstpicture 76), depending on at least one of the state of the vehicle 12and the situation of the periphery of the vehicle 12. Accordingly, inthe case where the vehicle rearward side including the lateral rearwardsides contains a site that requires an easy grasp of distance sense, itis possible to easily grasp the distance sense by decreasing thecompression ratio of the picture corresponding to the site. Thereby, theoccupant can appropriately grasp the situation of the periphery of thevehicle 12.

When the control device 22 acquires the information indicating that thevehicle 12 moves to one side in the vehicle-width direction, the controldevice 22 changes the compression ratio of the lateral rearward viewpicture 72 or lateral rearward view picture 74 of the side correspondingto the one side, to smaller compression ratio than the compression ratiobefore the acquisition of the information. Further, the control device22 changes the compression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture 72or lateral rearward view picture 74 of the side corresponding to theother side in the vehicle-width direction, to a larger compression ratiothan the compression ratio before the acquisition of the information.That is, when the control device 22 acquires the information indicatingthat the vehicle 12 moves to one side in the vehicle-width direction,the control device 22 increases the compression ratio of the lateralrearward view picture 72 or lateral rearward view picture 74 of the sidecorresponding to the other side in the vehicle-width direction comparedto before the acquisition (decreases the display range), and by aquantity equivalent to the increase quantity, decreases the compressionratio of the lateral rearward view picture 72 or lateral rearward viewpicture 74 of the side corresponding to the one side compared to beforethe acquisition (increases the display range). Accordingly, it ispossible to grasp the situation in a wide range of the vehicle rearwardside, and it is possible to easily grasp the distance sense in thelateral rearward view of the one side in the vehicle-width direction towhich the vehicle 12 moves.

Furthermore, the control device 22 acquires the information indicatingthat the vehicle 12 moves to the one side in the vehicle-widthdirection, from the operating information about the direction indicator36, and therefore, when the occupant expresses an intention to move thevehicle 12 to the one side in the vehicle-width direction, thecompression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture 72 or lateralrearward view picture 74 on the inner mirror display 18 of the side towhich the vehicle 12 moves is changed to a smaller compression ratio orthe non-compression. Accordingly, by visually recognizing the innermirror display 18, the occupant can easily grasp the distance sense inthe lateral rearward view of the side to which the vehicle 12 moves.Therefore, the occupant can appropriately grasp the situation of theperiphery of the vehicle 12, before the occupant moves to the one sidein the vehicle-width direction. Further, it is possible to avoid thecompression ratio of the picture on the inner mirror display 18 frombeing changed at a timing that the occupant does not intend. Thereby,when the vehicle 12 moves to the one side in the vehicle-widthdirection, the occupant can further appropriately grasp the situation ofthe periphery of the vehicle 12.

Furthermore, when the control device 22 changes the compression ratio ofthe picture to be displayed on the inner mirror display 18, the controldevice 22 continuously changes the compression ratio. Accordingly, theoccupant can follow the change in the picture, and therefore, it ispossible to restrain confusion caused by switching of the picture,compared to a case where the picture suddenly switches. Thereby, it ispossible to reduce a feeling of strangeness of the occupant.

Further, the control device 22 displays the boundary marks 78 on theboundaries among the rearward view picture 70 and the lateral rearwardview pictures 72, 74 that are displayed on the inner mirror display 18,and therefore, even when the compression ratio of each picture ischanged, the occupant can recognize the boundaries among the rearwardview picture 70 and the lateral rearward view pictures 72, 74.Accordingly, even when the display ranges on the inner mirror display 18are greatly changed, the occupant can easily grasp what picture isdisplayed on the inner mirror display 18. Thereby, even when the displayis changed, the occupant can further appropriately grasp the situationof the periphery of the vehicle 12.

In the above-described embodiment, the compression process control unit65 displays the lateral rearward view pictures 72, 74 on the innermirror display 18, while the lateral rearward view pictures 72, 74 arecompressed in the vehicle-width direction. However, without beinglimited to this, the compression process control unit 65 may display thelateral rearward view pictures 72, 74 while the lateral rearward viewpictures 72, 74 are compressed also in the vehicle-height direction,that is, while the angular field is widened.

Further, the control device 22 acquires the information indicating thatthe vehicle 12 moves to one side in the vehicle-width direction, fromthe operating information about the direction indicator 36. However,without being limited to this, as an example, the control device 22 mayacquire the information from steering angle detection means (notillustrated) provided near the steering wheel 38. In this case, when thevehicle 12 moves to one side in the vehicle-width direction, it ispossible to change the compression ratio of the lateral rearward viewpicture 72 or lateral rearward view picture 74 on the inner mirrordisplay 18 of the side to which the vehicle 12 moves, to a smallercompression ratio or the non-compression, with no operation other than asteering operation. Accordingly, the occupant can easily grasp thedistance sense in the lateral rearward view of the side to which thevehicle moves, with reduction in operation burden of the occupant.Thereby, when the vehicle 12 moves to one side in the vehicle-widthdirection, the occupant can further appropriately grasp the situation ofthe periphery of the vehicle 12.

Second Embodiment

Next, a vehicle electronic mirror system according to a secondembodiment of the present disclosure will be described with use of FIG.8 to FIG. 10. Here, constituent parts identical to those in the firstembodiment are denoted by identical reference characters, and thedescriptions are omitted.

A vehicle electronic mirror system 90 according to the secondembodiment, which has the same basic configuration as that in the firstembodiment, is characterized in that when a physical body is detected inthe periphery of the vehicle 12, the vehicle electronic mirror system 90changes the compression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture 72 orlateral rearward view picture 74 of one side in the vehicle-widthdirection that corresponds to the direction of the detection of thephysical body, to a smaller compression ratio or the non-compression.

Hardware Constituents

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the vehicle electronic mirror system 90includes the rearward camera 14, the lateral rearward camera unit 16,the inner mirror display 18, the control device 22 as the compressionprocess control means and the compression ratio change control means,and a surrounding detection sensor 96. The constituents are connected bya bus 98, such that the constituents can communicates with each other.

The surrounding detection sensor 96 is a sensor that detects thesituation of the periphery of the vehicle 12, and is configured toinclude, for example, a laser radar, an ultrasonic sensor or amillimeter-wave radar (the sensors are not illustrated). The surroundingdetection sensor 96 may be configured by combination of a plurality ofsensors. Alternatively, the surrounding detection sensor 96 may beconfigured to detect the situation of the periphery of the vehicle 12 byimage recognition with a camera.

Functional Constituents

As shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle electronic mirror system 90 includes anattention object detection unit 100, a determination unit 102, acompression ratio change control unit 106, a compression process controlunit 108, and the output unit 66, as functional constituents. Thefunctional constituents are realized when the CPU 48 of the controldevice 22 reads the surrounding display program stored in the ROM 50 orthe storage 54 (see FIG. 3) and executes the surrounding displayprogram.

The attention object detection unit 100 receives information about thesituation of the periphery of the vehicle, from the surroundingdetection sensor 96, and identifies whether there is a physical body(attention object) such as another vehicle or a pedestrian, the type ofthe physical body, the position of the physical body, and the like.

The determination unit 102 receives information about the attentionobject, from the attention object detection unit 100, and selects thelateral rearward view picture 72 or lateral rearward view picture 74corresponding to the direction of the detection of the attention object,depending on whether the attention object exists and the position of theattention object. Specifically, in the case where the determination unit102 determines that the attention object exists in the vicinity on theleft lateral rearward side of the vehicle 12, the determination unit 102selects the lateral rearward view picture 72 resulting from the imagingby the left lateral rearward camera 16L, and sends the lateral rearwardview picture 72 to the compression process control unit 108. On theother hand, in the case where the determination unit 102 determines thatthe attention object exists in the vicinity on the right lateralrearward side of the vehicle 12, the determination unit 102 selects thelateral rearward view picture 74 resulting from the imaging by the rightlateral rearward camera 16R, and sends the lateral rearward view picture74 to the compression process control unit 108.

Similarly to the compression process control unit 65 in the firstembodiment, the compression process control unit 108 performs synthesissuch that the rearward view picture 70 resulting from the imaging by therearward camera 14 and the lateral rearward view pictures 72, 74resulting from the imaging by the left lateral rearward camera 16L andthe right lateral rearward camera 16R are continuously displayed on theinner mirror display 18. As shown in FIG. 5, at the normal time, thecompression process control unit 108 displays the first picture 76 inwhich the boundary marks 78 are displayed on the respective boundariesamong the rearward view picture 70 and the lateral rearward viewpictures 72, 74, on the inner mirror display 18.

When the compression ratio change control unit 106 receives, from thedetermination unit 102, the direction of the detection of the attentionobject based on the detection information of the surrounding detectionsensor 96, the compression ratio change control unit 106 changes thecompression ratios of the lateral rearward view pictures 72, 74 in thecompression process control unit 108, from the compression ratios beforethe detection of the attention object, that is, from the compressionratios of the first picture 76. Specifically, in the case where it isdetermined that the attention object exists in the vicinity on the leftlateral rearward side of the vehicle 12, the compression ratio changecontrol unit 106 changes the compression ratio in the compressionprocess control unit 108 for the lateral rearward view picture 72resulting from the imaging by the left lateral rearward camera 16L, to asmaller compression ratio than the compression ratio at the normal time(the first picture 76), or to the non-compression. In contrast, thecompression ratio change control unit 106 changes the compression ratioin the compression process control unit 108 for the lateral rearwardview picture 74 resulting from the imaging by the right lateral rearwardcamera 16R, to a larger compression ratio than the compression ratio atthe normal time (the first picture 76). Accordingly, the compressionprocess control unit 108 displays the second picture 80 shown in FIG. 6,on the inner mirror display 18. The boundary marks 78 to be displayed onthe inner mirror display 18 are also displaced in the vehicle-widthdirection, with the change in the compression ratios of the lateralrearward view pictures 72, 74.

In the case where it is determined that the attention object exists inthe vicinity on the right lateral rearward side of the vehicle 12, thesecond picture 80 is displayed on the inner mirror display 18,similarly. That is, the compression ratio change control unit 106changes the compression ratio in the compression process control unit108 for the lateral rearward view picture 74 resulting from the imagingby the right lateral rearward camera 16R, to a smaller compression ratiothan the compression ratio at the normal time (the first picture 76), orto the non-compression. In contrast, the compression ratio changecontrol unit 106 changes the compression ratio in the compressionprocess control unit 108 for the lateral rearward view picture 72resulting from the imaging by the left lateral rearward camera 16L, to alarger compression ratio than the compression ratio at the normal time(the first picture 76). Accordingly, without changing the compressionratio of the rearward view picture 70, it is possible to decrease thedisplay range of the lateral rearward view picture 72, and by a quantityequivalent to the decrease quantity, increase the display range of thelateral rearward view picture 74.

Processing Flow

Next, an action of the vehicle electronic mirror system 90 will bedescribed. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a behavior flow of the vehicleelectronic mirror system 90. The CPU 48 reads the surrounding displayprogram from the ROM 50 or the storage 54, expands the surroundingdisplay program in the RAM 52, and executes the surrounding displayprogram, so that the picture display is performed. Here, processesidentical to those in the first embodiment are denoted by identicalreference characters, and the descriptions are omitted.

The CPU 48 determines whether the attention object has been detected(step S200). In the case where the attention object has not beendetected (step S200: NO), the CPU 48 performs the process from stepS100. On the other hand, in the case where the attention object has beendetected (step S200: YES), the CPU 48 displays, on the inner mirrordisplay 18, the second picture 80 resulting from changing thecompression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture 72 or lateralrearward view picture 74 of one side in the vehicle-width direction thatcorresponds to the direction of the detection of the attention object toa smaller compression ratio or the non-compression (step S104), andthereafter, repeats the process from step S102. Then, in the case wherethe system end process for the power unit system of the vehicle 12 isperformed, the CPU 48 ends the process based on the surrounding displayprogram.

Operation and Effect of Second Embodiment

Next, an operation and an effect of the second embodiment will bedescribed.

The above configuration is the same as the configuration of the vehicleelectronic mirror system 10 in the first embodiment, except that whenthe physical body is detected in the periphery of the vehicle 12, thecompression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture 72 or lateralrearward view picture 74 of one side in the vehicle-width direction thatcorresponds to the direction of the detection of the physical body ischanged to a smaller compression ratio or the non-compression.Therefore, the same effect as the first embodiment is obtained. Further,when the physical body is detected in the periphery of the vehicle 12,the control device 22 changes the compression ratio of the lateralrearward view picture 72 or lateral rearward view picture 74 of one sidein the vehicle-width direction that corresponds to the direction of thedetection of the physical body, to a smaller compression ratio than thecompression ratio before the detection of the physical body, or to thenon-compression. Further, the control device 22 changes the compressionratio of the lateral rearward view picture 72 or lateral rearward viewpicture 74 of the side corresponding to the other side in thevehicle-width direction, to a larger compression ratio than thecompression ratio before the detection of the physical body.Accordingly, it is possible to grasp the situation in a wide range ofthe vehicle rearward side, and it is possible to easily grasp thedistance sense in the lateral rearward view of the one side in thevehicle-width direction that corresponds to the direction of thedetection of the physical body. That is, the occupant can easily graspthe distance sense for the physical body. Thereby, when the physicalbody exists in the periphery of the vehicle 12, the occupant can furtherappropriately grasp the situation of the periphery of the vehicle 12.

In the first and second embodiments, the rearward view picture 70 is notcompressed in both of the first picture 76 and the second picture 80.However, without being limited to this, the compression ratio of therearward view picture 70 may be also changed.

As the display means, the inner mirror display 18 is provided. However,without being limited to this, an unillustrated display provided on aninstrument panel may be adopted as the display means, a head-up displaydevice to perform projection display on the front windshield glass maybe adopted as the display means, or a device other than these devicesmay be adopted as the display means.

The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. Anapplicable embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to theabove embodiments. Naturally, various modifications other than the aboveembodiment can be carried out without departing from the spirit of thepresent disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle electronic mirror system comprising:rearward view imaging means for imaging a rearward view of a vehicle;lateral rearward view imaging means for imaging each of rearward viewsof right and left lateral sides of the vehicle; compression processcontrol means for compressing at least one of a rearward view pictureresulting from the imaging by the rearward view imaging means and rightand left lateral rearward view pictures resulting from the imaging bythe lateral rearward view imaging means, at least in a vehicle-widthdirection, and displaying the compressed picture on display means; andcompression ratio change control means for changing a compression ratioof the picture in the compression process control means, from acompression ratio at a normal time, depending on at least one of a stateof the vehicle and a situation of a periphery of the vehicle.
 2. Thevehicle electronic mirror system according to claim 1, wherein when thecompression ratio change control means acquires information indicatingthat the vehicle moves to one side in the vehicle-width direction, thecompression ratio change control means changes the compression ratio ofthe lateral rearward view picture of a side corresponding to the oneside, to a smaller compression ratio than a compression ratio before theacquisition of the information, or to non-compression, and changes thecompression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture of a sidecorresponding to the other side in the vehicle-width direction, to alarger compression ratio than a compression ratio before the acquisitionof the information.
 3. The vehicle electronic mirror system according toclaim 2, wherein the compression ratio change control means acquires theinformation indicating that the vehicle moves to the one side in thevehicle-width direction, from operating information about a directionindicator.
 4. The vehicle electronic mirror system according to claim 2,wherein the compression ratio change control means acquires theinformation indicating that the vehicle moves to the one side in thevehicle-width direction, from steering angle detection means.
 5. Thevehicle electronic mirror system according to claim 1, wherein when aphysical body is detected in the periphery of the vehicle, thecompression ratio change control means changes the compression ratio ofthe lateral rearward view picture of one side in the vehicle-widthdirection, to a smaller compression ratio than a compression ratiobefore the detection of the physical body, or to non-compression, andchanges the compression ratio of the lateral rearward view picture ofthe other side in the vehicle-width direction, to a larger compressionratio than a compression ratio before the detection of the physicalbody, the one side in the vehicle-width direction corresponding to adirection of the detection of the physical body.
 6. The vehicleelectronic mirror system according to claim 1, wherein when thecompression ratio change control means changes the compression ratio ofthe picture to be displayed on the display means, the compression ratiochange control means continuously changes the compression ratio.
 7. Thevehicle electronic mirror system according to claim 1, wherein thecompression process control means displays a boundary mark on a boundarybetween the rearward view picture and the lateral rearward view picturethat are displayed on the display means.